President Isaac Herzog has consistently prioritized mediation and plea negotiations over granting a pre-verdict pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial, citing the need for an admission of responsibility or court resolution before exercising clemency authority. The Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department issued an opinion against recommending extraordinary relief without conviction or remorse, while coalition ministers have pressed for clemency citing national security. External calls from U.S. President Donald Trump have highlighted divisions but prompted reaffirmations of Israeli sovereignty and procedural independence. With the trial advancing through testimony and cross-examination into mid-2026 and no pardon issued, trader consensus reflects structural barriers to early resolution absent a sudden shift in Herzog’s stance or a completed plea arrangement.